Monday, June 13, 2011

Audubon Ruffed Grouse

Soooo, this is a framed print that I bought at the auction for the grand total (I think) of five bucks. It just looked old to me and of course I have a thing for old prints. When I got it in my hands I noticed the word Audubon in the lower left hand corner. It stayed on the floor in the bedroom for a week or two and then I hung it up. Then I tried to read what was in the lower right hand corner....hmmm, Havell 1833...hmmm. I began to do a little research, and of course it is a reproduction. Namely the main cue that it is a reproduction is the size...I have actually seen a Audubon double elephant folio and it used to reside about 5 miles from where I now live. In the home of J.Z. George--"Cotesworth." Of course I was in high school then and was impressed despite the fact that I didn't know what I was looking at. I wonder if they still have it displayed or if it is in a vault some where.

This is Cotesworth.
When I was doing my research, I noted that the original double elephant print of my Ruffed Grouse was listed for $27,000 on one website ....so according to Wiki, "Of the 119 copies known to survive, only eleven are held in private collections. In March 2000 the Fox-Bute copy sold at Christie's (New York) for $8,802,500. In December 2005 an unbound copy, the Providence Athenaeum Set, sold, again at Christie's (New York), for $5.6 million
Although I didn't find a treasure money wise, I did find a treasure in that I learned a lot about the amazing Mr. Audubon...and that was worth five bucks, plus it looks great in my guest bedroom...

4 comments:

Nice way to begin a learning experience. Like the 2.50 items you picked up. I love to go to thrift stores and try to find neat stuff. You did good girl. The VS store are for pencil girls and I wore some of their stuff (very little-too expensive) when I was a pencil but now at 61 even if I was a pencil I would not wear their stuff. Wit age come the wisdom of COMFORT. Peace

Hey! I haven't been here in a loooong time! How ya doin??? Love the print, and maybe you'll come across one of those $8,000,000 pieces at that dadgum auction you go to. I'll be hitting the World's Longest Yard Sale next week, though, so hopefully I'll finally find some treasures, too!

I just discovered your lovely blog. I look forward to popping by again for some more inspiration! I'm just new into blogging this year & have put together a daily blog on design, fashion, food, travel and anything pretty.http://scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com/ and one on everything coastalhttp://coastal-style.blogspot.com/I had a lot of fun putting them together maybe you would like to check it out if you have a spare minute.xMelissah

About Me

I blog therefore I am.
I am married to my exact opposite, but I love him with all my heart. We have been married 17 years. I got two children in the deal, who have given me a total of 7 grandchildren. I'm doing this thing backwards. I got the teenagers first, they grew up and married and then I got the babies. We have two puppy girls CiCi and GinGin. They are named after Elvis' women, Priscilla Presley and Ginger Alden. We have two new additions to our family, a baby chihuahua girl--Ann Margaret and a baby chihuahua boy--Fontana. DJ Fontana was Elvis' drummer and of course Ann-Margaret was long time friend of Elvis. They of course have nicknames--TanTan and BitBit...